THE Association of Business Mentors (ABM) is today calling for government, policy makers and business leaders to join forces to boost the uptake of professional business mentoring among UK businesses to help drive business growth.
Many businesses owners and leaders are still unaware of the tremendous impact that working with a professional mentor will have for their business. The expertise and skill of a well-matched, experienced mentor has been proven* to transform the growth and viability of businesses, including financial health, operational growth, sector success and employee health and wellbeing.
Georgina Waite, ABM Chief Executive Officer explains, “At the ABM, we see constant evidence that mentoring works: businesses that know this are growing and thriving. We urge more businesses to access this vital support.”
While the UK Government’s recent Help to Grow Management programme has helped put mentoring at the forefront of today’s business support conversation, the ABM believes that UK business, government and policy makers can do more. The organisation is calling on business leaders, networks, support organisations, local authorities and policy makers to work together to ensure mentoring becomes a routine resource for all business owners and leaders.
Simon Fordham, ABM Chair, confirmed: “Professional business mentors are the ‘secret weapon’ for business success. Every business can benefit from the guiding hand of a skilled and experienced expert. It’s proven time and time again that they bring huge value in both supporting the business leader and the growth of the business. It’s time to shine a light on the impact of these professionals. If every UK business embraced the power of mentoring, the economic impact for UK PLC would be transformational.”
By spreading knowledge of the value, impact and outcomes of mentoring, partnering to provide a range of mentoring opportunities delivered to professional standards, and adopting a forward-looking approach that supports the UK’s long-term growth ambitions, the ABM anticipates more businesses will seek mentoring, supporting their business success now and for the future.
Georgina Waite CEO concludes, “We need to change the question. Instead of ‘Do you have business mentor?’ we should be asking ‘Why don’t you have a business mentor?'”
Today’s initiative reinforces the ABM’s commitment to professional business mentoring as a vital part of the business landscape, as the organisation continues to work in the UK and Ireland to ensure that businesses are supported by trusted, experienced and dynamic professional business mentors.
The ABM is calling for action in the following five areas:
· To raise awareness of the impact of professional business mentoring on business growth.
· To collaborate with UK business, government and policy makers to demonstrate the value of mentoring and to guide ambitious business leaders to seek professional support.
· To provide partnership programmes that deliver accessible mentoring opportunities to businesses.
· To raise the standard of professional business mentors, including through accreditation, codes of practice, continuing professional development and qualifications.
· To support advances in mentoring that embrace the future economic climate and long-term growth ambitions for UK businesses.
